Trading Partners

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. -- Sales of nonprescription drugs in the U.S. grew by only 3 percent in 2005, but this did little to slow the increasing dominance of some of the biggest players in the OTC market. According a study released yesterday by market research firm Kline & Co., the recent flurry of mergers and acquisitions has put more than half of the total sales volume into the hands of just 10 manufacturers.

QUINCY, Mass. and SCARBOROUGH, Maine - Two supermarket operators in New England -- Ahold USA banners Stop & Shop and Giant Food, and Delhaize's Hannaford Bros. Co. are vying to be at the head of the class in health-and-wellness education, with two new nutrition initiatives.

QUINCY, Mass. and SCARBOROUGH, Maine - Two supermarket operators in New England -- Ahold USA banners Stop & Shop and Giant Food, and Delhaize's Hannaford Bros. Co. are vying to be at the head of the class in health-and-wellness education, with two new nutrition initiatives.

KULPSVILLE, Pa. - Clemens Markets here, the Philadelphia area's largest independent supermarket chain, will be acquired in a two-part deal by Ahold's Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores division, and Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc.

MONTVALE, N.J. -- The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) here presented contribution checks representing its year-round fund-raising efforts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during the charity's 41st annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon Sept. 3 to Sept. 4 in Las Vegas.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The General Merchandise Distributors Council here last week hired Robert W. Hodgin for the newly created position of director of business development, as part of the re-invention of the trade association's GMDC Educational Foundation.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is making sure its seafood departments get credit for supporting sustainable fisheries. The chain said yesterday it is now featuring the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) independent blue eco-label on 10 fish products, including the world's first MSC-labeled surimi products, in its Supercenter and Neighborhood Market locations across the United States.

Fisher Foods sells more greeting cards than ever before -- in less space. Here's how.